שָׁזַף
𐤔𐤆𐤐
shâzaph
H7805 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be scorched or burned, particularly by exposure to intense sunlight; by extension, to be darkened or altered in appearance as a result of sun exposure. In figurative or poetic contexts, can refer to being struck, gazed upon, or altered by intense scrutiny or attention.
Semantic Range
to be scorched (by the sun), to be darkened (in appearance due to sun exposure), to be tanned, to suffer visible alteration due to intense light or heat, figuratively—to be scrutinized intensely, to be gazed upon with impact
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁ-ז-ף (שָׁזַף), whose core meaning is related to burning, scorching, or intense exposure. The verb שָׁזַף directly reflects an action of being affected by strong heat or rays, especially sunlight. Root-level meaning centers on the idea of being scorched or burnt.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical Hebrew, שָׁזַף appears primarily in poetic or descriptive contexts (e.g., Song of Songs 1:6) to describe the experience of bodily tanning or being darkened by the sun, often emphasizing the result of exposure rather than the process itself. The figurative use (such as 'to scan' or 'to gaze piercingly') is interpretive and primarily reflective of later or poetic uses, not the primary, literal sense. Unlike other roots connected to burning (e.g., שׂרף 'to burn, destroy with fire'), שָׁזַף focuses on the mark left by sunlight or heat rather than combustion or destruction. Modern translations sometimes obscure the bodily or sensory aspect by using metaphors like 'gaze,' but the Hebrew term emphasizes tangible, physical change. The word is rare in the Hebrew Bible and is not associated with ritual, sacrificial burning, or general destruction.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to tan (by sunburning); figuratively (as if by a piercing ray) to scan; look up, see.
Bantu Hebrew
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שׁזף (š-z-p̄) — to scorch, to burn, to be darkened by sun
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7805-02 |
שְׁ֭זָפַתּ/וּ | shezafatu | HVqp3fs/Sp3ms |
has seen it | she scorched him | 2 |
H7805-01 |
שֶׁ/שֱּׁזָפַ֖תְ/נִי | sheshezafateni | HTr/Vqp3fs/Sp1cs |
has scorched me | she scorched me | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7805-02 |
Job 20:9 | שְׁ֭זָפַתּ/וּ | shezafatu | HVqp3fs/Sp3ms |
that saw him | she scorched him |
H7805-02 |
Job 28:7 | שְׁ֝זָפַ֗תּ/וּ | shezafatu | HVqp3fs/Sp3ms |
has seen it | she scorched him |
H7805-01 |
Song of Songs 1:6 | שֶׁ/שֱּׁזָפַ֖תְ/נִי | sheshezafateni | HTr/Vqp3fs/Sp1cs |
has scorched me | she scorched me |